Child resistant closure for beverage containers

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a closure for a container having a generally planar top adapted to enclose the opening of a container, a sealable opening, a closure adapted to seal the opening and hingedly movable between a first sealed position and a second opened position, a generally planar tab having a first end pivotably connected to the planar top and axially rotatable between a first position where the planar tab is aligned to generally occlude the sealable opening and a generally opposed second position, such that the planar tab is secured in the first position and the planar tab can be axially rotatable between the first position and the second position upon application of an axial rotational force to the second end of the planar tab.

FIELD

The present invention relates to food and beverage packaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to “child resistant” closures for beverage containers that are difficult to open and as such render the contents of a container difficult to access.

BACKGROUND

A number of food, beverage and pharmaceutical products can be dangerous if consumed in too large of quantities. As such, access to these products are often packaged in containers that are designed to be difficult to open, particularly by a child who may lack the strength, dexterity or understanding to circumvent the various safety measures that are employed to limit access to the container that the product is packaged in.

However, there is a distinct lack of appropriate child resistant closures for beverage containers, particularly aluminum cans. Typically, manufactures rely on the fact that a standard aluminum can with a tab opening (often referred to as a stay-tab) is difficult to operate by a small child.

However, it is contemplated that certain beverages (such as alcoholic beverages) present a particular risk to a child, and as such it is desirable to increase the difficulty presented when opening a container containing these particular types of beverages.

Moreover, beverages commonly consumed by children, such as soft drinks, are regularly packaged in the same format as beverages that are decidedly not suitable for children, such as beer. Therefore, it is particularly important to ensure that beverages stored in these types of containers have suitable safeguards in place to ensure that a child does not accidently have ready access to an inappropriate beverage.

As such, there is need for a closure that securely and sealingly closes a beverage container, limits access to the beverage and which can only be circumvented by an adult who possesses the requisite strength, dexterity and understanding to circumvent the safety measures employed to limit access to the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

It is contemplated that the present invention provides a sealable closure for a beverage container that renders the contents of a container difficult to access, yet is readily operable by an adult.

In at least one embodiment, it is contemplated that the present invention provides a closure for a container, the closure having a generally planar top having an upper surface and a lower surface, the top adapted to enclose the opening of a container, a sealable opening extending through the planar top, a closure adapted to seal the opening, the closure hingedly connected to a perimeter of the sealable opening, the closure hingedly movable between a first sealed position and a second opened position, a generally planar tab having a first end and the second end, the first end of the planar tab pivotably connected to the upper surface of the planar top, the planar tab axially rotatable about the first end between a first position where the second end of the planar tab is aligned to generally occlude the sealable opening and a generally opposed second position, such that the planar tab is secured in the first position, such that the planar tab can be axially rotatable between the first position and the second position upon application of an axial rotational force to the second end of the planar tab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be better understood in connection with the following figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a closure in connection with at least one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the closure is in a secured position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a closure in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the closure is in an unsecured position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a closure in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the closure is in an opened position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a closure in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the closure is in a secured position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a closure in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the closure is in an unsecured position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a closure in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the closure is in an opened position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a closure in connection with another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the closure is in a secured position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a closure in connection with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, wherein the closure is in an unsecured position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a closure in connection with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, wherein the closure is in a secured position; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a closure in connection with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, wherein the closure is in an unsecured position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

It is contemplated that the present invention provides a sealable closure for a beverage container that renders the contents of a container difficult to access, yet is readily operable by an adult.

It is contemplated that each component of the present invention can be manufactured out of any suitable material, to any suitable dimensions, and by any suitable manufacturing process that will be readily appreciated by the skilled person.

In at least one embodiment, it is contemplated that the present invention provides a closure for a container that is adapted to hold a beverage. It is contemplated that the container can take any suitable form, shape, size and can be manufactured of any suitable material by any suitable manufacturing process.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the present invention provides a generally planar top that is adapted to enclose an opening of a container. It is contemplated that the top can take any suitable shape and will depend on the format of the container that is used in the particular end user application.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the top has an opening that extends through the top and can take any suitable shape. A corresponding closure is provided that is adapted to seal the opening in order to ensure that the beverage is contained with the container.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the closure is hingedly connected to the top at a position on the perimeter of the opening. In this way, it is contemplated that the closure can be hingedly moved from a first, sealed position to a second, opened position in order to provide access to the beverage that is packaged in the container. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the closure is formed of the same piece of material as the top and the perimeter is comprised of score lines which are broken when the closure is opened, as will be readily understood by the skilled person.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that a generally planar tab is provided that has a first end and a second end. It is contemplated that the first end of the planar tab is pivotably connected to the upper surface of the top, such that the planar tab can be rotatably moved from a first position to a generally opposed second position.

In at least one embodiment, it is contemplated that the planar tab is positioned over the opening in the first position, such that access to the opening is at least partially occluded by the second end of the tab when the tab is in the first position. Moreover, it is contemplated that the opening is accessible when the tab is in the generally opposed second position.

It is further contemplated that the tab can be further secured in the first position such that it takes a predetermined degree of force to rotatably move the tab from the first position to the second position. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that a frangible detent is provided that must be forcibly removed before the tab can be moved from the first position to the second position.

Other securing means are also contemplated, such as but not limited to pivoting means that are adapted to provide a significant degree of rotational friction that must be overcome in order to rotatably move the tab from the first position to the second position, among other arrangements.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that at least one upwardly projecting detent is provided laterally adjacent to the planar tab such that the planar tab cannot be moved from the first position to the second position without forcibly lifting the second end of the tab element over the at least one upwardly projecting detent as the planar tab is rotated about the first end of the planar tab from the first position to the second position.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the at least one upwardly projecting detent is a frangible element that can be forcibly removed when the side of the planar tab contacts the at least one upwardly projecting detent and a lateral force is applied to the at least one upwardly projecting detent as the planar tab is rotated about the first end of the planar tab from the first position to the second position.

Once the tab is moved to the second position, it is further contemplated that the tab can be subsequently lifted such that the second end of the tab pivots at the second end of the tab about a transverse axis. In this way, it is contemplated that the tab can be angularly disposed from a closed position where it is flatly oriented against the top, to a second position where it is angularly oriented relative to the top.

It is further contemplated that that when the tab is moved from the flat position to the angularly oriented position, the second end of the tab is positioned such that it depresses the closure and thereby hingedly moves the closure from the first, sealed position to the second, opened position.

In this way, the closure can be opened and beverage can be accessed once the tab is forcibly rotated from the first position (where the opening in the top is occluded) to the second position (where the opening in the top is accessible).

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 one embodiment of the present closure is illustrated from a top view. In this embodiment, the present invention includes a top 10 having an opening 12 that is sealably closed by closure 14. Tab 20, having a first end 22 and a second end 24, is provided that is pivotably attached to top 12 by way of pivoting means 16. Closure 14 is hingedly connected to top 10 at a position on the perimeter of opening 12.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, a frangible detent 30 is provided that secures tab 20 in a first position where the second end 24 of the tab 20 occludes the opening 12 in order to limit access to opening 12, however other arrangements are also contemplated as will be appreciated by the skilled person.

Turning to FIGS. 1 to 6, it can be seen that tab 20 can be rotatably moved from a first position where the second end 24 of the tab 20 occludes opening 12 in order to limit access to opening, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. As tab 20 is rotated about first end 22 of tab 20 and pivoting means 16 in order to move tab 20 from the first position to a generally opposed second position, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, it is contemplated that the frangible detent 30 forcibly removed from top 10 upon application of a predetermined degree of rotational force to the second end 24 of the tab 20, thereby permitting the tab 20 to be rotated from a first position to a second position.

Once tab 20 is forcibly rotated to the second position, it is contemplated that second end 24 of tab 20 can be lifted away from top 10, thereby causing first end 22 of tab 20 to rotate about a transverse axis that is approximately located in a coplanar arrangement relative to top 10. In this way, tab 20 can be moved from a flat position, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, into an angularly disposed position, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6.

As tab 20 is moved to the angularly disposed position, it is contemplated that first end 22 is positioned such that first end 22 of tab 20 depresses closure 14 at a position that is adjacent to the hinged connection between closure 14 and the perimeter of opening 12. In this way, opening 12 is depressed from a first sealed position (as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) to a second opened position (as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6).

Turning to FIGS. 7 to 10, in some embodiments it is contemplated that at least one upwardly projecting detent 32 is provided on the upper surface of top 10 laterally adjacent to tab 20. Upwardly projecting detent 32 secures tab 20 in a first position where the second end 24 of the tab 20 occludes the opening 12 in order to limit access to opening 12.

As tab 20 is rotated about first end 22 of tab 20 and pivoting means 16 in order to move tab 20 from the first position to a generally opposed second position, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, it is contemplated that the upwardly projecting detent 32 prevents tab 20 from rotating and second end 24 of tab 20 can be lifted over upwardly projecting detent 32 upon application of a predetermined degree of vertical force to the second end 24 of the tab 20, thereby permitting the second end 24 of tab 20 to clear upwardly projecting detent 32 and tab 20 can subsequently be rotated from a first position to a second position.

In other embodiments, it is contemplated that upwardly projecting detent 32 can be frangible such that upwardly projecting detent 32 is forcibly removed from the upper surface of top 10 upon application of a predetermined degree of rotational force to the second end 24 of the tab 20, thereby permitting the tab 20 to be rotated from a first position to a second position.

As a result, the present invention provides a closure for a beverage container that is secure and difficult to open, unless the user possess the strength, dexterity and understanding to forcibly rotate the tab from a first position where the tab occluded the opening of the container, to a second position there the opening is accessible and can be opened in order to access the beverage.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments it will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that there are many permutations and combinations of combining the primary response variables to achieve particular benefits. All such permutations and combinations are considered to be within the sphere and scope of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure for a container, the closure comprising: a generally planar top having an upper surface and a lower surface, the top adapted to enclose the opening of a container, a sealable opening extending through the planar top, a closure adapted to seal the opening, the closure hingedly connected to a perimeter of the sealable opening, the closure hingedly movable between a first sealed position and a second opened position, and a generally planar tab having a first end and the second end, the first end of the planar tab pivotably connected to the upper surface of the planar top, the planar tab axially rotatable about the first end between a first position where the second end of the planar tab is aligned to generally occlude the sealable opening and a generally opposed second position, wherein the planar tab is secured in the first position, and wherein the planar tab can be axially rotatable between the first position and the second position upon application of an axial rotational force to the second end of the planar tab.
 2. The closure of claim 1 wherein once the planar tab is moved to the second position it is further movable from a flat position to an angularly oriented opened position, such that when the planar tab is moved to the angularly oriented opened position it outwardly pivots about a transverse axis located adjacent the first end of the planar tab and a leading edge of the first end of the planar tab is positioned to depress the closure thereby hingedly moving the closure from the first sealed position to the second opened position.
 3. The closure of claim 1, further comprising at least one upwardly projecting detent, the at least one upwardly projecting detent projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the planar top and positioned laterally adjacent to the planar tab, wherein the second end of planar tab must be forcibly moved in a vertical direction away from the upper surface of the planar top to provide clearance for the at least one upwardly projecting detent as the planar tab is rotatably moved from the first position to the second position.
 4. The closure of claim 1, further comprising at least one upwardly projecting detent, the at least one upwardly projecting detent projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the planar top and positioned laterally adjacent to the planar tab, the at least one upwardly projecting detent is frangible upon application of a predetermined horizontal force to the at least one upwardly projecting detent by the second end of the planar top as the as the planar tab is rotatably moved from the first position to the second position.
 5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the planar tab is secured in the first position by at least one frangible detent that abuts the second end of the planar tab and secured to the upper surface of the planar top, the at least one frangible detent being frangible upon application of a predetermined horizontal force to the at least one frangible detent by the second end of the planar top as the as the planar tab is rotatably moved from the first position to the second position. 